Again and again the question arises whether the fruit of the beautiful tree is edible. We get to the bottom of the myth of the poisonous pear.
The pear (Amelanchier) used to be an important fruit tree. Today, however, it is almost exclusively used as an ornamental shrub. So could it be that the fruits of the shrub are poisonous? In our article we explain the toxicity of the pear, give tips on types of edible pear and tell you everything about the ingredients and possible uses of the fruit.
Rock Pear belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and many of the known species are native to North America. With us, the shrub is mostly used as an ornamental plant. It can be found in many parks, hedges and gardens. In spring the shrub blooms beautifully and in autumn the foliage turns every imaginable shade of red. In addition, many service pear species bear numerous small, violet to dark blue fruits. However, many people avoid the wild fruit because they think that the fruit of the pear are poisonous.
The myth of the poisonous pear is actually not completely unfounded. On the contrary: there is even a grain of truth in it. Nevertheless, you don't have to do without enjoying the he althy local super fruits. Because if you know which parts of the plant are poisonous and how you deal with them, the fruits become safe to eat.
Is the pear poisonous or edible?
To understand whether the fruits of the pear are poisonous or not, we need to take a closer look at the ingredients. The three most important ingredients of the pear are:
- Cyanogenic Glycosides
- Flavonoids
- tannins
Cyanogenic glycosides are indeed very toxic to humans and animals. However, these toxic substances are only found in the seeds and leaves of the service pear. In addition, the concentration of the poison in the cores is very low. For comparison: apple or grape seeds also contain the toxic cyanogenic glycosides. As long as the seeds are not chewed, there is no risk of poisoning. The body can use the seedsnamely do not break down, and they are excreted undigested - so the poison cannot get into the body. And even if a few seeds are occasionally chewed, the quantity of the toxic substance is not sufficient to poison a person.
The information center for poisoning in Bonn classifies the toxicity of the pear as slightly toxic. However, children should not eat too many pear fruits, as small amounts of chewed seeds can be worrying given their small size.
You can recognize a weak poisoning with pear fruit by the following symptoms:
- Discomfort
- nausea
- Vomiting
- stomach ache
- Diarrhea
If you get these signs, you can treat them by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or tea.
Tip: If you have questions about poisonous plants and substances, it is always worth taking a look at the Poison Information Center in Bonn. An information center emergency telephone number provides advice and also helps in the event of possible poisoning.
The other two main ingredients of the pear fruit are not harmful, but on the contrary very he althy for the body. Flavonoids have an antioxidant effect and protect cells from aging. Tannins are also good for digestion and the stomach.
Summary: Is the pear poisonous?
- Leaves and seeds of the fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides - these are very toxic
- However, the concentration in the seeds is very low
- The seeds are excreted undigested
- Small amounts of the fruit are safe to eat
Edible rock pear species & varieties
If you would like to harvest service fruit from your own garden, you should know which species and varieties are worth growing. Some species are particularly recommended for their fruits. We have put together an overview of suitable edible service pear species and varieties for you below. You can find out what else you should consider before buying a pear in our special article.
Copper Pear (Amelanchier lamarckii)
The copper pear owes its name to the bronze-colored leaves, which turn strikingly orange and crimson in autumn. But she hasn'tonly a high ornamental value, the fruits are also edible and tasty. In spring it blooms in bright white and attracts many insects. The fruits are also highly appreciated by birds. This type of pear originally comes from North America, but has been cultivated here for a long time and is very popular. It is not for nothing that this species is called currant tree in northern Germany: the fruits used to be dried and then used like currants.
Alder pear (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Native to North America, this species is used as both an ornamental and fruiting shrub. The fruits can be enjoyed raw or cooked, and tea can also be made from them. We have put together some interesting, edible varieties of the alder pear for you:
- ‘Fastagiata’: The fruits of this variety taste deliciously sweet and fruity.
- 'Forstburg': This very productive variety bears large and thick fruits that taste sweet and delicious.
- 'Greatberry Garden': This variety bears delicious, sweet fruits.
- 'Smokey': The shrubs of this variety grow up to 4.4 meters tall and bear tasty fruit.
Canada Pear (Amelanchier canadensis)
The fruits of the Canadian pear are also non-toxic and edible. We will tell you here which varieties are particularly suitable for a rich fruit yield:
- ‘Prince William’: This variety is characterized by numerous beautiful flowers and particularly large fruits.
- 'Rainbow Pillar': This variety grows in a columnar shape and also produces edible, sweet fruits.
Bald pear (Amelanchier laevis)
The bare pear forms particularly large shrubs (8 to 13 metres), but is not bare, as the name suggests. The leaves also turn beautifully colorful in fall and some of the highest yielding edible service pear cultivars are of this species:
- 'Ballerina': One of the most popular fruit varieties of the pear. It forms countless, tasty fruits.
- 'Edelweiß': The shrubs of this variety can grow up to 5 meters high. They also bear many edible fruits.
- 'Snowflakes': This variety forms large shrubs. It bears large, juicy fruits that can be up to 2 cm thick.
Rock pears: ingredients, taste and use
As abovedescribed, the pear contains flavonoids and tannins that are extremely he althy. Other ingredients of the fruit are vitamin C and minerals such as magnesium, calcium and iron. The wild fruit is also very low in calories: 100 grams of fresh rock pears contain around 85 calories.
The taste of the pear is reminiscent of blueberries with a hint of marzipan. The fruits can be used in many ways. Of course, they can be eaten raw like berries. Other possible uses are jams, liqueurs, juices or syrups. For a jam made from rock pear, you can use the fruit pure or mixed with other berries such as raspberries (Rubus idaeus) or currants (Ribes) with preserving sugar in proportion Boil down 1:1. You can also conjure up delicious cakes or muffins from wild fruit.
If you've got a taste for it now and would like to know how to plant the service pear in your garden, you can find out all about it here in our special article.